Swiftlets farming for production of edible bird's nests

Abstract

An edible bird's nests production facility comprising of: a wholly man made artificial caves system and / or converted natural relief such as caves, valleys, cliffs forming the nesting habitat and associated supporting facilities configured to breed swiftlets for their nests by means of a captive breeding program for swiftlets; commercialized-scientific farming methods; specialized apparatus, mechanisms and techniques; managed sustainable harvesting of nests; provision of a safe and secure nesting habitat and a conducive environment to maximize avian population by minimizing mortality rates; safe collection of nests by means of mechanized lifting systems and specialist mountaineering equipment.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority to Singapore Patent Application 200601493-0, filed Mar. 13, 2006.FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS[0002]The present invention relates to the breeding of swiftlets of the genus Aerodramus and / or Collocalia in an edible bird's nests production facility for producing large quantities of nests. And a highly efficient method for harvesting nests safely. Such a facility configured to breed swiftlets for their nests helps in conserving wild species of endangered swiftlets.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS[0003]Present method of obtaining edible bird's nest involves collecting and harvesting nests of wild swiftlets in their natural habitats such as mountain caves and limestone cliffs for consumption causing irreversible disruptions and damages to the dwindling populations of endemic wild swiftlets. Poachers have been known to raid established roosts of protected and endangered species of swiftlets in national parks and wildlife preserves at night to steal edible bird...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0028]Such that when the nesting season approach, this innate sense of belonging and pre-mediated conditioning ingrained into the conscious and sub-conscious mind urges nesting swiftlets to return home to its colony and birth-place to roost, congregate, mate, build new nests, lay eggs, brood, hatch and rear the next generation of young. Special survival techniques and live training exercises may be provided to juvenile birds in a controlled environment to help them survive better when foraging for food in the vicinity of the avian farm.

[0029]An object of the present invention is to provide a method and system including facilities and techniques for the large scale domestication, breeding and rearing of swiftlets for their nests, commercial production techniques, managed sustainable harvesting and safe collection of edible bird's nests to satisfy the appetite of connoisseurs and to meet market demand without harming wildlife. A scientific method of farming including the provision of apparatus and techniques beneficial to avian husbandry and the conservation of wild swiftlets capable of producing edible bird's nests. Scarcity of supply relative to global demand serves to artificially inflate the high prices of this “delicacy.” It is a fact that edible bird's nests comprises an essential ingredient in Asian culinary delights and “traditional medicine” practices, a tonic and an invigorating health food for the rich and affluent to pep up their energy levels.

[0030]The method as disclosed may create a new niche or spin-off industry in animal husbandry for high volume production of edible bird's nests in commercial farms comprising specialized production facilities. Providing the traditional edible bird's nest industry steeped in harvesting of wild nests with an alternative supply of commercially farmed edible bird's nests. A cleaner, healthier and high quality source of health food product produced in a controlled environment by means of modern scientific farming techniques. Commercial farming possess advantages such as economics of scale, high productivity and efficiency; safe breeding environment for swiftlets and safe harvesting of edible bird's nests by collectors trained in the use of mountaineering equipment and mechanized lifting systems; including other specialized equipment, facilities and techniques designed, configured and tailor made for the edible bird's nest production facility; modern management techniques, deployment of professional expertise such as veterinarians and ornithologists, avian medications, vaccination against disease and sickness, etc. Favorable conditions that only a farm environment can provide. Such advantages may be used to maximize the avian population by minimizing mortality rates, thus increasing productivity and efficiency of the production facility. Farmed edible bird's nest provides connoisseurs with a choice of consuming such nests with a clear conscience, secure in the knowledge that they had not harmed wild-life. But had in fact, helped in the conservation of wild species of swiftlets by making a conscious personal choice in choosing farmed products, in preference, over wild life related products.

[0031]Included in the swiftlet's breeding and edible bird's nests production facility of present invention are specialized equipment such as predator traps; arrangement to exclude or keep out predators from the nesting habitat; commercial breeding and production facilities for worms, gigantic enveloping cages protecting the roosting habitat; adaptation, modification and integration of nesting habitat into natural formations like rock cliffs and mountain valleys forming ecologically and environmentally friendly avian eco-farms; artificial nesting cavities built into natural cliffs; man made roosting structures and cavities, wholly man made artificial “caves” for breeding swiftlets; nesting panels specifically designed for swiftlets to perch vertically and to build nests during the breeding season; designs incorporating safety features into the constructions, apparatus and safety devices to minimize fledgling mortality rates; pest control measures including fumigation with chlorine gas and cleaning of nesting panels with high pressure water jets; mechanized lifting systems, safety equipment and apparatus for safely collecting and harvesting edible bird's nests from great heights, hundreds of meters above ground level.

Problems solved by technology

Such that nest poachers indiscriminately destroys un-hatched eggs, killing swiftlet chicks too young to fly to safety, disrupting their reproductive life-cycle, threatening their very survival such that some species of swiftlets in South East Asia are fast approaching extinction.

Dealers are unable to proof the legality of their supply sources.

Unscrupulous dealers have been known to pass off imitation products and fakes as genuine edible bird's nests.

Some nest-processors employed harmful chemicals and detergents in the treatment of nests to improve the market value of the commodity to the detriment of consumers.

Swiftlets roosts on vertical cliffs or walls of caves high above, making harvesting of nests an extremely risky profession.

Many collectors were known to have fallen to their death from flimsily constructed climbing apparatus used for harvesting edible bird's nests.

Such that demand for this scarce commodity out-strips supply, which conversely, had been shrinking due to poaching, non-sustainable harvesting and destruction of wild habitats.

Domestication, commercialized breeding, rearing and managed husbandry of swiftlets in a specially equipped highly productive avian farm or edible bird's nest production facility dedicated to producing edible bird's nest on a commercial scale will prevent extinction and enhance the survival of wild avian species by providing an alternative supply of farmed edible bird's nests in the market, reducing and stabilizing prices of the commodity making illegal harvesting of wild nests unattractive to poachers.

Such that edible bird's nest may no longer remain as a rare commodity affordable to the rich and affluent but commonly available for all connoisseurs.

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